Proposed flight paths when the new runway opens at Perth Airport shows new or increased aircraft noise will plague a slew of suburbs, with some to get up to 200 extra aircraft movements a day.
Late last month, Qantas reached a historic multibillion-dollar agreement with Perth Airport that will pave the way for the construction of a new terminal and runway to allow the expansion of its services.
But with that expansion comes new flight paths which, while provisional mapping has been made public, are yet to be laid in stone.
Proposed flight paths contained in the airport’s major development plan show residents living in the eastern suburbs of Forrestfield, High Wycombe, South Guildford and Wattle Grove will be among the hardest hit with up to 200 extra “noise events” each day.
Other suburbs likely to face an increase include parts of Swan View, Greenmount, Darlington, Glen Forrest, Helena Valley, Canning Vale, Thornlie, Guildford, Caversham and West Swan.
Areas to the west and south-west are the most likely to experience a decrease, including parts of South Perth, Cannington, Lathlain and Belmont.
The new runway is due to become operational around 2028. Perth Airport said the extra runway was urgently needed to alleviate morning flight congestion linked to the booming fly-in, fly-out traffic supporting WA’s resources sector.
Airservices Australia with Perth Airport will start the final flight path design approximately three years out from the opening of the new runway.
A Perth Airport spokesman said that process was yet to start.
“The proposed new runway is a critical element of Perth Airport’s plan to invest more than $5 billion in a range of projects to bring all flight services into one airport,” he said.
“Perth Airport experiences significant peak periods of departures and arrivals demand with demand for runway slots now exceeding capacity during peak periods throughout the working week.”
Last year Perth Airport hit the 15 million passenger mark for the first time in its history. Qantas alone was expected to add up to an additional 4.4 million passengers each year by 2031.
When the new flight paths went out for public comment more than 2000 submissions were received with hundreds received each from High Wycombe and Darlington residents. There were also numerous submissions from residents in Canning Vale, Swan View and Greenmount. The main concerns raised revolved around noise, impact on amenity and health as well as falling property prices.
In its plan, the airport estimated the number of existing dwellings to experience five or more aircraft noise events above 65 decibels per day was expected to decrease slightly, from approximately 83,600 to 78,000.
Noise at or above 65 decibels is defined as the level at which conversation is disrupted indoors with the windows open.
More than 25,000 dwellings, however, would average more than five additional daily noise events with 8200 dwellings to be newly affected.
By 2045, due to the growth in aircraft movements, the number of dwellings exposed will increase to approximately 82,600.
The plan could add 4.4 million extra passenger movements to and from Perth annually by the time the new terminal opens, with its construction generating up to 3000 jobs.
The state government has been contacted for comment over whether it would look at introducing an aircraft noise insulation scheme for residents in suburbs affected by the new flight paths.
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